Methods for selective deposition are provided. Material is selectively deposited on a first surface of a substrate relative to a second surface of a different material composition. An inhibitor, such as a polyimide layer, is selectively formed from vapor phase reactants on the first surface relative to the second surface. A layer of interest is selectively deposited from vapor phase reactants on the second surface relative to the first surface. The first surface can be metallic while the second surface is dielectric. Accordingly, material, such as a dielectric transition metal oxides and nitrides, can be selectively deposited on metallic surfaces relative dielectric surfaces using techniques described herein.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of selective deposition on a second dielectric surface of a substrate relative to a first metal or metallic surface of the substrate, the method comprising, in order: treating the first and second surfaces by exposing the substrate to a silane; selectively forming a polymer layer from vapor phase reactants on the first surface relative to the second surface; baking the polymer layer; controlling a position of an edge of a dielectric layer to be deposited relative to a boundary between the underlying first and second surfaces, the controlling comprising etching the polymer layer for a selected polymer etch time that allows some, but not all, of the polymer layer on the first surface to be removed; and depositing the dielectric layer on the second surface of the substrate from vapor phase reactants.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the silane comprises an alkylaminosilane.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein treating comprises exposing the substrate to N-(trimethylsilyl) dimethylamine (TMSDMA) or trimethylchlorosilane.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein baking comprises heating the substrate to a temperature of about 200 to about 500° C.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively forming the polymer layer comprises selectively vapor depositing an organic polymer layer on the first surface.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the organic polymer layer is a polyimide layer.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer is deposited by an atomic layer deposition process.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a metal oxide.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the metal oxide comprises a dielectric transition metal oxide.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer comprises ZrO2.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a partially fabricated integrated circuit with an embedded feature in which the first metal or metallic surface is flush with the second dielectric surface.
12. The method claim 1, wherein controlling the position of the edge comprises controlling the position so that the edge of the dielectric layer is aligned with the boundary between the first and second surfaces.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein etching comprises an anisotropic etch.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein etching comprises an isotropic etch.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein a polymer is formed on the second surface, and the selected polymer etch time allows a portion of the polymer from the second surface to be removed during the etching while leaving the edge extending over the boundary between the underlying first and second surfaces.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, after depositing the dielectric layer, removing the polymer layer, resulting in a gap between an edge of the deposited dielectric layer and the boundary between the underlying first and second surfaces.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected polymer etch time allows any polymer from the second surface to be completely removed and leaves the edge aligned with the boundary between the underlying first and second surfaces.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected polymer etch time allows any polymer from the second surface to be completely removed and allows a portion of the polymer layer from the first surface to be removed.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the deposited dielectric layer extends over the boundary between the underlying first and second surfaces.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the deposited dielectric layer overlaps the first surface.
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October 20, 2023
June 3, 2025
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